Veteran golfer Fred Funk all set for the Transitions Championship - Golf news
Age of 50 and beyond might be the twilight of many golfer’s career but Fred Funk is in no mood to step back even with a knee transplant. The 54-year-old American is all set to participate in the upcoming Transitions Championship this
week, at Copperhead Course and is confident that he can still win a PGA Tour.
Funk is known probably to be the shortest drivers of the ball but his accuracy is unequalled in the golfing circuit. Many of his competitors now regard him as the straightest driver that has played on the course for the last 14 years.
"When I'm playing good, I'm a better player now than I ever was," Funk said. "I still think I'm still improving, and I know I'm learning a lot.”
Funk started experiencing pain in his right knee when he turned 50 and was informed that his knee has undergone a serious ligament fracture. Funk was preparing for the Champions Tour at that time and though, a bit disappointed with
the news, he persisted in his bid for the win.
He kept playing in 2008, while doctors kept draining excess fluids from his knee. His deteriorating knee finally suffered a serious infection and he had to get it replaced with Stryker Corporations’ Triathlon Knee System.
Funk, who is also working as a spokesman for the corporation, believes that his knee replacement has been doing wonders for him lately and he has experienced phenomenal improvement in his game. "I went through a lot with my knee and
I know I'm not the only one who has suffered severe pain because of bad knees," Funk said. "I'm a walking billboard. I'm playing at the highest level on the Champions Tour and the PGA Tour and I'm able to compete. It shows people can have replacement and have
a regular life afterwards."
Funk has been a winner of eight tournaments on PGA Tour. He won the 2005 Players Championship which was the benchmark of his career, when he became the oldest winner of the Championship. He is also the winner of 2009 Seniors Tour.
On June 8, 2009, Funk became the oldest golfer that has ever qualified for the US Open. He is expected to be playing 10 to 12 events on the PGA Tour this year, including The Heritage, in April.
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